Mr. Darcy’s Debt: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Novel by Floyd April

Author:Floyd, April
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-02-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Elizabeth Bennet awoke some hours later to find her sister Jane dozing in a chair beside her bed. In an instant, the memory of Colonel Fitzwilliam’s accident returned to her mind as vivid and real as if she were in the field watching it happen again.

She gave a cry and startled her sister. Jane rose from her chair and settled herself on Elizabeth’s bed. “Tis alright, dear Lizzy, I am here and I have excellent news. The colonel is resting peacefully downstairs and the surgeon has said he will recover. You must not worry now.”

Elizabeth sat up slowly, her head a bit fuzzy. She was truly grateful to know of Richard Fitzwilliam’s condition but still the agony of having caused his plight pained her heart. “Jane, I have ruined everything. Mr. Darcy shall never forgive me, nor the Matlocks.”

“Lizzy, I know you’ve had a terrible shock this morning, but you must understand you are not to blame. Mr. Bingley is the one who wished to race. He said it himself in the breakfast parlor this morning.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “It can’t be. Why would Mr. Bingley do such a thing? I was the one who spoke of racing.”

Jane leaned closer to her sister and spoke softly. “Lizzy, you must accept that you are not to blame. Richard will need our help to recover and the Matlocks will be staying here for the foreseeable future. The time for blame and recrimination is past. It was an accident and we must focus on the colonel’s health.”

Elizabeth knew Jane was right, it truly made no difference why the trio had begun to race but in her heart she worried that Mr. Darcy would see her differently now. “I will do all that I might to assist the colonel in regaining his health. Perhaps in time, I shall come to feel less guilt than I do now.”

Not wishing to further upset her sister, Jane did not mention the conversation she overheard between Mr. Darcy and the earl. There would be time for that discussion later. For now, she meant to have Elizabeth dine with the family and see the colonel.

“Come, let me do your hair and help you dress. We must be brave and strong. If there is any one thing to be done now, it is to attend the colonel as best we can.”

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